Packaging machine designed for the compression and packing of blocks of expanded material

ABSTRACT

A packaging machine ( 10 ) designed and equipped for the compression and packing of blocks of expanded material and in particular expanded polyurethane where the machine comprises: a) an infeed block “A” comprising an infeed unit ( 11 ) mounted on wheels, which has a first lower infeed conveyor belt ( 12 ) and a second upper infeed conveyor belt ( 13 ) which is fitted with a first hydraulic press ( 14 ); b) a central block “B” containing a crossways sealing bar ( 15 ) operating with a cold sealing system and a powered lower reel holder ( 16 ) and a powered upper reel holder ( 17 ); c) a rear block “C” comprising a second out feed conveyor which in turn comprises an upper conveyor belt fitted with a central hydraulic press counter opposing a further lower conveyor belt ( 20 ), and two side sealing bars ( 21 ) employing a cold sealing system.

RELATED APPLICATION

The present application claims priority from Italian Patent Application Number VR2009A000013 filed on Feb. 13, 2009, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference

1. Field

The present invention relates to a packaging machine designed and equipped for the compression and packing of blocks of expanded material and in particular expanded polyurethane.

In particular the present invention relates to a machine comprising means for compressing blocks of expanded polyurethane in such a way that the pressed blocks are wrapped in a flat plastic barrier film (that is, one which does not allow air to pass) which in turn is sealed on its four sides by sealing bars.

This forms a vacuum-packed package which prevents the re-expansion of the material until opening of the package and at the same time keeps the product perfectly clean and protected from external agents.

The machine according to the present invention comprises a block compression unit and a vacuum packaging unit equipped with sealing bars with a cold sealing system.

The present invention relates to the packaging industry and in particular to the sector for packing expanded material such as expanded polyurethane or similar products.

2. Background Art

It is well known that the compression of expanded material for the purposes of reducing its volume ready for shipping to its destination is one of the problems faced by operators in the sector for which a solution has not yet been found.

Known technology includes machines which can compress materials in order to reduce their volume but these machines are not suitable for use specifically in the sector of expanded polyurethane. The reason for this is that these machines do not have the components necessary for compressing the product and keeping it in this condition with a suitable packaging designed specifically for holding and containing the object compressed to its minimum dimensions.

Known technology also includes a method for reducing the volume of expanded polyurethane blocks and then packing them. However, this solution describes the method in theory only without explaining how a machine to perform this function may be made or which of the problems to which the present invention proposes a remedy may in effect be solved.

DRAWINGS

Further features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the description of an example embodiment which follows with reference to the annexed drawings, given purely by way of a non-limiting example, in which:

FIG. 1 shows a side view of the machine according to the present invention in its entirety; and

FIG. 2 shows a plan view of the machine according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present invention provides a packaging machine for the compression and packaging of blocks of expanded material which eliminates, or at least reduces, the shortcomings outlined above.

The present invention also provides a packaging machine for the compression and packaging of blocks of expanded material which is simple to make and has a high production capacity. The machine is also able to compress with the maximum efficacy blocks of expanded polyurethane and products which need to be reduced to their minimum dimensions ready for transport.

These aims are achieved by a packaging machine for the compression and packaging of blocks of expanded material, whose characteristics are described in the main claim.

The dependent claims of the solution herein describe advantageous example embodiments of the invention.

The main advantages of this solution, in addition to those which derive from the simplicity of its construction, principally concern the fact that the machine according to the present invention generally enables pressing of the block by means of two hydraulic presses in order to eliminate the air contained inside the block.

In a second stage of the work cycle of the machine according to the present invention, the pressed block is wrapped in a flat-sheet plastic barrier film, that is one film which prevents the passage of air, which is then sealed on its four sides by means of suitable sealing bars.

In this way the machine forms a vacuum-packed package which prevents the re-expansion of the material until opening of the package and at the same time keeps the product perfectly clean and protected from external agents.

The machine according to the present invention substantially comprises:

an infeed block comprising an infeed conveyor belt on wheels and an upper conveyor belt which is fitted with a first hydraulic press;

a central block carrying a crossways sealing bar with our patented cold sealing system and a powered lower reel 30 holder and a powered upper reel holder;

a rear block comprising a second conveyor belt and an upper conveyor belt which is fitted with the second hydraulic press and the two side sealing bars with our patented cold sealing system;

The machine is also fitted with an electric hoist for loading the upper reel, a ladder and a gangway for reaching the upper part of the machine easily, a control panel and a personal computer which can be loaded with programs for the individual types of block.

While the apparatus and method have been described in terms of what are presently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that the disclosure need not be limited to the disclosed embodiments. It is intended to cover various modifications and similar arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the claims, the scope of which should be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and similar structures. The present disclosure includes any and all embodiments of the following claims.

DESCRIPTION OF AN EXAMPLE EMBODIMENT

With reference to the annexed drawings, the machine according to the present invention substantially comprises a steel load bearing structure 10 which is substantially divided into the three blocks shown in FIG. 2 as follows:

an infeed block “A” comprising an infeed unit 11, mounted on wheels, which has a first lower infeed conveyor belt 12 and a second upper infeed conveyor belt 13 which is fitted with a first hydraulic press 14;

a central block “B” containing a crossways sealing bar 15 (shown in FIG. 2) operating with a cold sealing system and a powered lower reel holder 16 and a powered upper reel holder 17;

a rear block “C” comprising a second outfeed conveyor which in turn comprises an upper conveyor belt 18 fitted with a central hydraulic press 19 counter opposing a further lower conveyor belt 20, and two side sealing bars 21 employing a cold sealing system.

The first hydraulic press 14 which moves the upper conveyor 13 in a vertical direction, and the second central hydraulic press 19 which moves the second upper conveyor 18 in the vertical direction are actuated in the vertical direction by the hydraulic cylinders 22 and 23 respectively.

The machine according to the present invention also comprises an electric hoist 24, fitted to a support 25, for loading the upper reel and a ladder 26 and a gangway 27 for reaching the upper part of the machine easily.

The entire equipment is controlled from a control panel and a personal computer which can be loaded with programs for the individual types of block.

During operation, the machine 10 enables pressing of the block by two hydraulic presses 14 and 19 thereby eliminating the air contained in the block.

The pressed block is then wrapped in a plastic barrier film 28, that is, a film which does not allow air to pass, which in turn is sealed on its four sides by sealing bars 15 and 21.

This forms a vacuum-packed package which prevents the re-expansion of the material until opening of the package and at the same time keeps the product perfectly clean and protected from external agents.

As already stated above, the reduction in volume of between 70 to 80%, depending on the density and capacity of the polyurethane, has a two-fold advantage: firstly, it enables a sizeable saving in transport costs because a presser truck is no longer required and approximately twice the number of blocks can now be loaded onto standard pallets and secondly, because it enables savings in storage space.

The press is installed on a conveyor belt in such a way as to ensure that compression takes place uniformly without deforming the product thereby ensuring perfect re-expansion when the packaging is removed.

The infeed press also acts as a mangle using a continuous series of pressing and raising movements which facilitate the opening of the product cells.

We will now describe the production cycle of a machine according to the present invention.

In the first cycle step the block is fed into the machine using a forklift truck, a lifter infeed conveyor, a lifter platform or other known devices which enable the positioning of the block on the lower infeed conveyor belt 12.

Once the block is positioned on the conveyor belt 12, the infeed press 14 travels downwards automatically so that the upper conveyor belt 13 presses the product to a percentage setting previously entered by the operator in the special management program.

In this cycle step it is possible to activate the “mangle” function which enables opening of the block cells by means of series of pressing movements alternating with short upwards movements of the press 14.

At this point the block passes into the “curtain” of film 28 formed by sealing of the upper reel 17 with the lower reel 16. The block is conveyed into the film curtain 28 and continues forward until it reaches the second conveyor belt 18.

During the passage, two pneumatic blowers (actuated by solenoid valves) are activated and keep the film 28 suitably tensioned.

During the operation described in the point above, the movement of the conveyor belt is accompanied by a horizontal movement of the entire infeed block so that the head of the block passes from the infeed conveyor belt 12 to the central conveyor belt 20 without the risk of re-expanding in the narrow gap between one belt and the other where the crossways sealing bar 15 is located.

Once the block is positioned on the second conveyor belt 20, the crossways sealing bar 15 travels downwards and makes the seal at the tail of the package.

The second press 19 travels downwards and compresses 15 the product to the final percentage previously set in special management program.

At this point sealing is performed by the two side sealing bars 21 on the remaining two sides so that the product is packed and ready to be unloaded from the machine.

The invention as described above refers to a preferred embodiment. Naturally, while the principle of the invention remains the same, the details of construction and the embodiments may widely vary with respect to what has been described and illustrated purely by way of the example, without departing from the scope of the present invention. 

1-7. (canceled)
 8. A packaging machine designed and equipped for the compression and packing of blocks of expanded material and in particular expanded polyurethane, comprising: a) an infeed section comprising an infeed unit mounted on wheels, which has a first lower infeed conveyor belt and a second upper infeed conveyor belt which is fitted with a first hydraulic press for pressing a block of expanded material during operation of the machine, thereby eliminating the air contained in said block of expanded material which is inserted between said first lower infeed conveyor belt and said second lower infeed conveyor belt; b) a central section containing a crossways sealing bar, as well as a powered lower reel holder and a powered upper reel holder for unwinding a first and a second plastic films; c) an outfeed section comprising a second outfeed conveyor comprising an upper outfeed conveyor belt fitted with a second hydraulic press and a lower outfeed conveyor belt, as well as two side sealing bars; wherein a block of expanded material enters said infeed section, is pressed by said first hydraulic press and then moved through said central section to said outfeed section where the pressed block is packed by said films which are sealed to each other to form a vacuum-packed compressed block.
 9. The packaging machine of claim 8, wherein the first hydraulic press, which moves said upper infeed conveyor belt in a vertical direction, and the second central hydraulic press which moves said second upper outfeed conveyor in the vertical direction, are actuated'in the vertical direction by hydraulic cylinders.
 10. The packaging machine of claim 8, further comprising an electric hoist, fitted to a support, for loading the upper reel, and a ladder and a gangway for reaching the upper part of the machine easily.
 11. The packaging machine of claim 8, in which said first and second plastic films for wrapping the pressed block are plastic barrier films which do not allow air to pass, said films being sealed to each other by means of sealing bars. 